"Hay algunas cosa de comer?"
said I. "Si Senor!" said he. "Que gusta usted?" Mentioning frijoles,
which I knew they must have if they had nothing else, and beef and
bread, and a hint for wine, if they had any, he went off to another
building, across the court, and returned in a few moments, with a
couple of Indian boys, bearing dishes and a decanter of wine. The
dishes contained baked meats, frijoles stewed with peppers and
onions, boiled eggs, and California flour baked into a kind of
macaroni. These, together with the wine, made the most sumptuous
meal we had eaten since we left Boston; and, compared with the fare
we had lived upon for seven months, it was a regal banquet. After
despatching our meal, we took out some money and asked him how much
we were to pay. He shook his head, and crossed himself, saying that
it was charity:- that the Lord gave it to us.
Knowing the amount of this to be that he did not sell it, but was
willing to receive a present, we gave him ten or twelve reals, which
he pocketed with admirable nonchalance, saying, "Dios se lo pague."
Taking leave of him, we rode out to the Indians' huts.
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